Equine Photographic Blog

After nearly a year of not really doing much other than slouching around on hacks, I realised that my riding was pants. Some photos demonstrated I had developed an impressive chair seat, I was riding far too short and seemed permanently in the ‘brace brace brace’ position of having my heels wedged down. Pony was objecting too, whenever I tried to school in the school (which was twice *looks embarrassed* isnt that what winter is for!?) he was reluctant to go forwards and seemed to be struggling. Seeing as he was going so nicely in long reins I reckoned that his disability was me! So unfair to expect a youngster to put up with a numpty rider so now I was gainfully employed I decided to get some lessons.We had a lack of riding schools in the area with schoolmasters and a couple of riding schools just didn’t want my money, preferring to concentrate on kids classes instead. I understand that they need to earn a living but still, it was frustrating! I wanted lessons to concentrate on my seat and position-I am not remotely interested in schooling someone else’s horse and I know the secret to a good seat is pain and humiliation. Finally, I remembered that Ernest Dillon had opened up a new EC about an hours drive from me. The brochure was impressive, the prices weren’t completely outrageous (I do believe you get what you pay for but cant pay silly money) so decided to give it a go. In preparation I did work without stirrups every day for about a week-not for any great amount of time but lots of transitions etc. Once I started to relax, Vico started swinging along, floppy eared and content. I’ve also been carrying out an exercise in trot when hacking, 7 rising strides, 7 in two point, 7 rising and 7 sitting and so on. The idea is to carry it out without interfering with the horse’s rhythm or way of going and while I probably look like an idiot doing that through the countryside, it certainly seems to help!

That first time I went for a lesson with a junior coach-I can’t afford Ernest yet and besides, I am not worthy at the moment. Had a chat on the phone when I booked about what standard I (think!) I am, what I’d like to achieve etc. Basically at the moment, I want to concentrate on getting my seat better-I want that feeling I had 20 years ago when I could sit on most anything and get a decent tune out of it!

So, when I arrived they introduced me to a huge Dutch WB who competed at medium level dressage. I kid you not, this horse was bigger moving in walk than Vico is in canter! Not to mention the lovely length of neck! Coach (find it a bit odd calling them coaches) asked me to work in - walk and trot. Erm, couldn’t trot. With V I think trot and we’re trotting but however hard I thought ‘trot on, nothing happened!

We then did some work on the lunge, without stirrups-just concentrating on me relaxing and sitting to this huge movement. This was great-with his trot I could really feel how my hips had to move to absorb him. V is so comfy you can get away without doing it properly but this of course, leads to problems. Also she told me to stick tummy out! Noone has ever said that to me before-why not (it’s not that huge!)? It really seems to help relax you. The horse did a reasonable spook across school and I didn’t move so either those big horses are easier to stay on or the minus-stirrup work is paying off. We then practiced collecting and lengthening the trot on and off the lunge, with and without stirrups, just using seat and leg. It was wicked, coach and horse were very nice…oh, and I could get him into trot by myself at the end !

I then had another lesson when I returned from down south. Different horse and different coach but good results once again. This one had me doing all sorts of contortions in the saddle which really freed up my hips and thighs and had me hurting for the next 3 days. The upshot is that since I started doing all this I am riding 3 holes longer, feel much more secure, am still carrying out exercises and contortions-including 2 point on tippy toes to free up my ankle, pony seems happier and we are schooling again Will definitely continue training at Kingsbarn and would love to take V up there in the New Year (and hope they don’t notice when I move in ). Have also heard of two freelance instructors local who I like that I hope would come out to give me some lessons on V soon.

Vico is going quite sweetly at the moment, I havent bothered too much about head carriage (although when I’m sitting well it happens by itself-funny that!) but concentrated on him being relaxed and ‘happy’ (although thats relative when it comes to schooling in the pouring rain )

I have always been curious about Paso Finos, they fit into that ‘Iberian-derived breed’ that is always fascinating , they are pretty and then there is the whole gaited thing-something of a mystery to most British riding types!

I am not backward in coming forward and so emailed the Rancho Pavo Real stud in Suffolk to see if I could visit. Like other genuine and enthusiastic horse people I’ve met this way, they were really hospitable and friendly and keen to show off their lovely horses. They even answered my occasionally dumb questions and generously spent several hours explaining the gaits, conformation, types & history of the breed. Many thanks to Yvonne and Rachel for a lovely morning-I hope to see you again and have put the Paso Fino show in my diary for next year!

The Pasos are ridden with bosals (steering and stopping) and curbs (collection). The curb seen above looks impressively long but the backward angled shanks leave it with probably less leverage than your average pelham.

There are 3 fino gaits; the classic fino which is mega fast movement of the legs without much forward movement, the paso corto which is more of the speed of a working trot and the paso largo which is the speed of a canter. Very kindly I was offered the ride on Magnolia. I hadnt gone intending to ride and after some pathetic bleating about not having my hat with me, a suitable hat was found (not many have as big a head as me Rachel, must be our brains ). Kindly, probably sensing my terror, Rachel started me off on the lunge. Magnolia was a delight. Its really hard when you arent used to the movement to know how fast you arent going-although I felt like I was racing around the arena, I was informed I was hardly moving . Off of the lunge I got more of a feel for her extraordinary sensitivity. I cant say I was really riding but the mare generously let me be a passenger and I think I smiled for much of the time I was on her! They really are supremely comfortable and each one we met seemed to be a lovely person. I was particularly taken by Oscuro and even more so now I have seen him move in the video!

If you’d like to find out more about these lovely wee horses, please visit

http://www.paso-finos.co.uk/

anyway, a few pics.The first shows the bosal and curb. Luckily Rachel took away the bosal reins for me when I whimpered about 2 reins. Such a pretty mare, they all had beautiful heads.

Our new online shop is up and running with our first set of favourite images from The European Working Equitation Championships and some of our back-catalogue. We will have all of our WE images on the site by the end of this weekend and will be adding all our galleries to it in the coming weeks.

To view the galleries just click on the galleries menu link on the main site. The gallery has slideshow features which take the lower resolution images and scale them up to full screen so they are a little bit chunky compared to the full images. The full resolution images are available as prints or as downloads.

If you have any questions or comments on the galleries please let us know.

Wow. What an amazing weekend we’ve had. The long drive down from Scotland to Gloucestershire was well worth it!

Despite the difficulties planning a cattle working test around a foot and mouth outbreak, a lovely afternoon was had at a farm in Buckinghamshire. I had to stand on the car in order to take pictures and I dont do heights very well! Still, it was OK as long as I didnt look down or move too quickly

The Spanish camp-not a regular sight in Buckinghamshire!

Four teams took part in the cattle test; Portugal, Great Britain, Spain and Italy. Each team fields four riders, each rider having to cut a ‘named’ cow from the herd in each round which is timed, with a maximum limit of three minutes. The British all-female team did very well particularly as they have much less experience with cattle work than their European counterparts. They also had the youngest horse in competition, the six year old lusitano mare Uxaria. They managed to get three of the four cattle, no mean feat!

The British all female team!!!!!!!

The Spanish team were extremely slick at the cattle work. One round in particular was so fast that I hardly had time to take a picture. When done so well, it’s very calm and quiet-I’m not sure the cattle even noticed! At the end of the day, Spain were leading with the fast and furious Italians second with Portugal third. The British and Portuguese team members all ride Lusitanos. The Spanish rode purebred Lusitanos and cruzados, which are Lusitano crossbreds. The Italian team had one lusitano mare.

One of slick Spanish team in action

Saturday morning saw the Equitation test. More competitors joined the competition at this point, with all the aforementioned teams having an extra rider representing their countries as individuals and Sweden also putting forward an individual riding an 18 year old warmblood. Team Belgium also joined in the competition-their first.

The divine Otario of the Portuguese team-rider is World Champion. For some reason I have alot of photos of this horse!

It should probably be pointed out that the equitation test (and later the obstacle course) is based on movements the horse may be called upon when working cattle and at this level is ridden one handed (left) entirely off the curb. The test is ridden entirely in walk and canter and movements include half pass, pirouettes, rein back, a four loop serpentine with flying changes and canter 10m circles. The horses are not neck reined.

The Italian team had the most comfy looking saddles. They also had one of my favourite horses of the competition (apart from Otario and the cremello stallion Ole). The grey Lusitano mare had the sweetest expression whatever she was doing.

The obstacle course is in two parts, the first is not against the clock -although there is a time limit. The second is against the clock with time penalties for any knocked over poles etc and elimination if the rider takes the wrong course. Obstacles include single and double slalom (flying changes), canter voltes around barrels-again with flying changes, a small jump, flase ground, rein back, side step along raised poles placed in a ‘L’ shape, livestock pen among others! Horses are judged on boldness, willingness, fluency etc.

The speed course took place the next day with a pared down course that still demanded discipline, concentration and speed! All teams rode well the first day with the Portuguese showing great skill, the Italians a promise of the speed yet to come and the British riding well. The Swedish and Belgian competitors showed how game they are and did a great job. Videos of two of the Portuguese speed rounds can be found on the main site, there are also enough photos to show all of the obstacles!

The Portuguese stallion Ole. Maybe not to everyone’s taste but this horse has such presence, I have pictures of him from Golega as well.

The speed round was great to watch, with the crowd cheering on each team and the Italian supporters being particularly supportive! I dont blame them either, their team were blisteringly fast and their individual rider (just 18 years old) won the speed section. A fair few competitors were eliminated for taking the wrong course including an Italian and Portuguese competitor. It was a great event and a great spectator sport.

The Portuguese won both the Individual and Team European Championship with the Spanish team second and the Italians’ third. The prize giving was a fairly riotous affair ending up with all teams galloping around the arena and lots of hat throwing! The foreign teams are great horsemen and great showmen.

The British team in action